Any favorite spots for photography in the Bay Area? Next week I travel to San Francisco for the MacWorld Expo, my first real trip with my new M6 & 35 Summilux. I'll have six mornings and twilights, as well three additional days for exploration. I'll probably rent a car for two of these days. I'm not familiar with the area, so I appreciate your recommendations for photographic points of interest.

Also, does anyone know of a good Bay Area dealer speicializing in Leica? Austin doesn't have a good source for used equipment, and I still need a 12575 shade for my Tele Elmarit.

Thank you and happy new year.

-- Luke Dunlap (luked@mail.utexas.edu), December 28, 2001

Answers

Ahh... will Mac finally come out with a flat panel iMac? My bet is yes. Will it have a slow G4... i just don't know, but if it does i will likely buy one.

As far as photo ops go, i would recommend the following:

"abnormal" street people photography (not that i think they too abnormal, since i lived right off of telegraph avenue for 4 years, but they represent the liberal extremism much of the rest of the country thinks is wierd): Haight Ashbury in SF and Telegraph Ave in Berkeley.

Landscapes: Marin Highlands (just across the Golden Gate)

City Scapes: Marin Highlands looking over the Golden Gate at the city (cliched i know), treasure island (a small island in between the two parts of the Bay Bridge), Alcatraz.

Various city scenes: just walk around anywhere in San Francisco and you should find something interesting. If you want a good view of the Golden Gate without the city in the background i recommend going to the beaches on the pacific south of the golden gate.

As far as dealers for Leica equipment go, you may want to try Adolph Gassers (spelling?), or there is some other shop on a side street just north of market between the financial center and union square that has a lot of used lenses... i just don't know the name.

-- Matthew Geddert (geddert@yahoo.com), December 28, 2001.

Luke,

You can get the 12575 shade from Richard Oesterling at KBCamera. www.kbcamera.com. I think he still might have 1 or 2 for sale.

-- John. (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), December 28, 2001.

I like shooting on Market Street.

Big Heels, Market Street, Copyright 2000 Jeff Spirer I also like the Mission District, there's a lot of interesting people, buildings, graffiti to shoot.

There's some fascinating old forts in the Marin Headlands. Most are filled with graffiti. I did a series a few years ago on graffiti in historic forts. Most visitors never go near them, preferring to stay close to the Bridge.

If you can drive for an hour, the Alviso District in San Jose is one of the few remaining areas that hasn't been destroyed by development, although industrial buildings and condos are creeping closer. There's an abandoned marina, interesting old buildings, some incredibly salty (and occasionally dangerous) characters, and some birdwatching areas.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), December 28, 2001.

Where you go to take pictures in the Bay Area depends a lot on what you like to shoot. It is a very photogenic area from the touristy GG Bridge/Fisherman's Wharf pics to the Mission District someone suggested earlier. And if you can get out of the City there is even much more. Some places I go back to include: Larkspur Ferry - best cheap ride in SF Point Reyes including the Lighthouse and the ride out there thru West Marin. North Beach Chinatown Lot of new development south of Market get some shots of the antique streetcars on Market Street and the Embarcadero Stay off Sixth Street and Civic Center Plaza and everything in between. If you see a guy with grey hair and a Leica it may be me. Remember when a woman asked Cartier-Bresson if he was a photographer he replied that he was a 'maniac'.

Good luck!

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), December 28, 2001.

If you drive then try the '49 Miles scenic dirve". They are many tourist points like Fort Mason, Fort Points, Presidio, Fisherman's Wharf, SF China Town. Take a day walk without car. Don't miss to ride a Cable Car. I mean taking pictures when riding on Cable car. My favorite point of SF: Crissy Field, SF

-- kenny chiu (amchiu@worldnet.att.net), December 28, 2001.

When you walk in the SF. Just watch the area you go. There are areas not safe to go. Hide your camera under coat. Walk light and enjoy.

-- kenny chiu (amchiu@worldnet.att.net), December 28, 2001.

The last tourist that was killed in SF was killed in a very upscale neighborhood. San Francisco is like any other big city - use all your senses. I've shot in some marginal neighborhoods with very visible equipment without any problems. If you aren't used to cities, use a small camera and save the rest for outside the city.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), December 28, 2001.

I agree SF is no worse than other big city in term of safety. I am more concerned of robbery which is not uncommon. I had lived in SF for many years and heard many robbery cases.

-- kenny chiu (amchiu@worldnet.att.net), December 28, 2001.

Luke:

congratulations and please enjoy your trip. i live just outside san francsisco and it is a wonderful town to photograph especially if you like street photography, the city is surprisingly compact with a rich intense ethnic and cultural diversity that in my opinion exceeds even that of new york.

the following are my opinions:

1. photo shops: adolph gasser. no one else is worth dealing with.

2. must see: the ansel adams exhibit at the MOMA. truly inspiring, although i wish the docents were more knowledgible about photography.

3. polk and castro: the heart of the very active gay and lesbian cvommunity. will probably shock your friends back home.

4. chinatown: one of the largest and most compact outside asia. the streets are crowded and the vendors spill onot the streets.

5. north beach: the heart of the itialian district.

6. touristy but worth it: take the powel street cable car to ghiradelli square then walk to fishermans square. the street perfromers will be out and can be photographed. treat yourself to some cracked crab and sourdough bread from a street vendor. a cheap trip in an expensive city.

7. save for a rainy day: pack some high speed B&W film and head for the palace of the legion of honor. they have the largest collection of rodan sculptures out side of france.

8. 4+ hour side trip: head towards stinson beach. you may not make it but along the way you will pass the golden gate bridge, the marin headlands, and muir woods.

9. night life: south of market.

10. for the baseball fan: pac bell park. they open it up during the offseason. moma's across the street is quite good.

final reccomendations parking is rare and tough in the city. consider alternate transportation. avoid the expensive restaurants and try some ethnic food. if you want it you can find it in the city.

-- greg mason (gmason1661@aol.com), December 29, 2001.

I think the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges I've ever seen. I love photographing it with my M6:

tristan@tristantom.com), December 29, 2001.

Luke, Just found out you are from Austin, Tx which is my favorite city. Miss their TexMex foods, steak, sea food, and many more. Huge plates and everything is big. You may try 'Washington Cafe' (on Washington St/Grant Ave) which is very near Chinatown Parking Garage(opposite of Holiday Inn, Chinatown). Inexpensive, fast, and very Cantoness style. Also don't miss the crab from local Fisherman. This is the season for crabs.

-- kenny chiu (amchiu@worldnet.att.net), December 29, 2001.

Greg's comments about parking in San Francisco are both true, but also a blessing in a way. I went to the city the first time totally not knowing what to expect, (aside from the usual postcard (clique) shots). I was shocked on my first day when I tallied up my parking expenses, but then I noticed that besides the hourly rate, most parking lots had a daily rate that was a very good deal. This forced me to be more systematic. I got up early, went to an area of interest (decided on the night before), parked and spent 9 or 10 hours on foot. This both saved me a tremendous amount of money and opened up photogenic subjects and areas that I would have never seen driving by or stuck in traffic.

Get a good Idea on the sunrise and sunset directions, and plan to be in the right spots for those times when the light is hitting everything right. I have hundreds of shots of the Golden Gate Bridge in all of it's front lit colorful glory, but I also went back and shot it in silhouette (calculating the time and direction of the sunset), and have a very recognizable structure rendered in a way most of the point and shoot users don't.

This is one of the most beautiful cities in America and you really can't go wrong, so just get there early and stay late.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), December 29, 2001.

Wow. Thank you all for your comments and opinions. I never really travel with a guidebook, I just do a lot of research ahead of time and take meticulous notes. I have jotted down your suggestions in the notebook that I carry in my Domke bag. Muir Woods and the Ansel Adams exhibit are required indeed. I had them on my list about a month ago, just after I convinced my boss to let me go to the MacWorld Expo.

And the Rodin collection I just learned about, but I'm looking forward to that. I see your point, Greg, about shooting it on a rainy day. I love to photograph sculpture. And grafitti. I literally have at least a thousand images of grafitti in Texas, New Orleans, New York and Mexico. I've even met a number of grafitti writers from around the world in the five years I've been covering the subject. I don't have any pictures from the west coast, so this will be a great opportunity to add to my collection.

And the food...yes, I'm very excited. Leisure travel for me is 45% photography, 45% eating and drinking, and 10% other.

In a few weeks I'll have my photography website up. I hope to have some nice shots from this trip to post. Until then, peace and prosperity in 2002.

--Luke

-- Luke Dunlap (luked@mail.utexas.edu), December 29, 2001.

If the weather is clear, the view from Coit Tower is truly awe inspiring. Take the bus unless you are in very good condition.

-- (bmitch@home.com), December 29, 2001.

Lots of good advice here. How about: PCH (Pacific Coast Hwy, aka Hwy 1), going down south to various beaches. Or head north through Marin, then to Armstrong State Forest, just north of Guerneville, about 2 hrs out of SF, for a really nice redwood forest- most likely to be much less crowded than Muir Woods.

From Stinson Beach (the town of), you can park your car near the espresso bar and head up the Matt Davis trail up Mt Tam (with all the rain, it might be pretty green now), and back down the Stepp Ravine trail, taking you up and around a deep ravine full of redwoods and ferns.

With your car, hop on the Bay Bridge, stay in the left lane, and exit off onto Treasure Island. There's a spot you can park and you'll have a close skyline view of the city. Nice.

Another great spot is up the hill above the Ft Mason, where once I had a wonderful view of the GG Bridge awash with golden sunset light.

Alamere Falls, in southern Pt Reyes, is always nice... a waterfall onto the beach.

Someone mentioned the Mission- there's a mural walk that one can take, which should be pretty. You'll be at the Moscone, so you can walk around the Embarcadero for a nice view of the bridge. Also, go up California and other trolley streets. And catch Lord of the Rings on the IMAX screen at Sony Metreon. ;-)

-- Tse-Sung (tsesung@yahoo.com), December 29, 2001.